New PM faces losing Commons confidence, Tory MPs warn

[brooklynite]

The Guardian

The next Conservative prime minister will face serious questions over whether they can command the confidence of the House of Commons, MPs have said after the party’s already vulnerable majority was put in further danger by the recall of a disgraced MP.

Several MPs told the Guardian they had “huge concerns” about whether Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt would be able to avoid an autumn election, given the Conservatives could lose another MP in an imminent byelection forced by the recall of Chris Davies.

The loss would give the Tories a working majority of three, and at least two MPs, Ken Clarke and Dominic Grieve, have said they would vote against their party if necessary in a confidence vote in order to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

The Guardian understands that Hunt raised concerns about the Tories’ shrinking majority in a private hustings with Conservative councillors on Friday, suggesting it would make it almost impossible for any prime minister to pursue no deal.